Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is ICC/Decision Services?
2. What is your primary value to your clients?
3. What sets ICC/Decision Services apart from the competition?
4. Do you have a list of your clients?
5. Who should be using your services?
6. I’m a Human Resources executive, how do your services benefit me?
7. I’m a Sales & Marketing executive, how do your services benefit me?
8. How do your services support operations?
9. We are using CRM technology—isn’t that good enough?
10. Are your programs and services expensive?
11. How long would it take your company to be ready to start a program?
12. What tools do you use to accomplish successful programs?
13. How do you measure results?
14. How do I get the results?
15. Can I change the type of reports I receive and how quickly do I get the results?
16. Who gets to see the reports?
17. Can I view a typical customer report website?
18. Who are your leaders?
19. Tell us about your support staff.
20. Can you also provide information about the retailing industry, consumer trends, and new technology available and recommended?
21. Are you a Full Service Research firm or conduct Mystery Shops only?
22. How often do you recommend Mystery Shopping a store or unit in a month? a quarter? Why?
23. How would you recommend putting the data to work? Can you provide an example?
24. I have an IVR/Web survey program; do I need mystery shopping?
25. I have a mystery shopping program; do I need IVR/Web surveys?
26. What is the value of competitive shopping?
27. Do you have any case studies?
1. Who is ICC/Decision Services?
We're a team of professionals who work with our clients to increase
sales and drive revenue through a variety of programs. We've been around
since 1979, when we first opened our office in New York.
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2.
What is your primary value to your clients?
We’re known for going beyond just collecting data. We help our clients
use the data we collect to drive real change in their stores. That’s
what sets us apart from the competition, and what keeps our clients coming
back.
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3.
What sets ICC/Decision Services apart from the competition?
Results: ICC/Decision Services is the leader in our industry. We offer a proprietary
process for data collection, then supplement the data with measurable results
that translate into increased sales, profits and customer satisfaction.
People: Our executive leaders have over 50 years retail experience, and our
database of over 150,000 professionally-qualified people means the job gets
done right the first time.
Customization: We tailor every program to fit your needs, so you can target
key initiatives and not waste your time on less important issues.
Savings: We don't charge for changes in surveys or reports, so you'll enjoy
flat-rate pricing. And our ROI Calculator™ means you know exactly how each
program benefits you.
Convenience: We save you valuable administrative time, and our proprietary
technology gives you the fastest access to the information you need when you
need it.
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4. Do you have a list of your previous clients?
The following is a brief listing of some of those we have worked with or are
working with now:
| The Limited |
Rite Aid |
McDonalds |
| Sports Authority |
Eddie Bauer |
Coach |
| Godiva |
Pacific Sunwear |
Southland Corporation/7-11 |
| Pizza Hut |
New York & Co. |
JP Morgan Chase |
| Liz Claiborne |
Winn-Dixie |
Pier 1 Imports |
| Petco |
BCBG Max Azria |
Pathmark |
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5.
Who should be using your services?
We often work with retail store executives in human resources, sales & marketing
or operations, but our programs can be customized to meet very specialized
objectives and needs.
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6.
I’m a Human Resources executive. How do your services benefit me?
If you are like most HR executives, you've dedicated a great deal of your time to creating training programs for new personnel and existing employees. We can help you be more successful by:
supporting training efforts
reinforcing and monitoring training procedures
calculating the increase in performance
supporting employee motivation programs
increasing levels of customer service
measuring the increase in customer service
levels
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7.
I’m a Sales & Marketing executive, how do your services benefit
me?
As a Sales & Marketing executive, you are charged with increasing sales
comps
month over month, quarter over quarter and year over year. Further, you are also
responsible for increasing market-share. We will help you attain your goals by:
increasing sales through simple behavior modifications
giving you an effective way to measure return-on-investment
create a uniform brand experience
increasing profits through the improved sales
deepening customer loyalty and retention
monitoring the presence of your point-of-purchase displays
measuring the increased effectiveness of all
your sales & marketing initiatives
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8.
How do your services support operations?
We will help you work toward smoother operations, loss prevention and profitability
by:
reducing shrinkage by increasing associate awareness
increasing profits through improved sales
assessing increased sales using our ROI Calculator™
enhancing the total customer experience
evaluating the enhanced customer experience
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9.
We are using CRM technology—isn’t that good enough?
CRM is a very important tool to track customers’ likes, dislikes and
shopping habits, but there is so much more you can do to improve upon the total
shopping experience for every one of your customers. We help you create an
environment that makes shoppers want to return to your stores. When used in
conjunction with CRM technology, our services can show you new opportunities
and help you find untapped potential.
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10.
Are your programs and services expensive?
No, they are not. We design our programs so that with management’s support,
they pay for themselves.
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11.
How long would it take your company to be ready to start a program?
Depending on the scope of the project, we can typically be fully organized
to start a comprehensive program within 5 -10 days.
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12.
What tools do you use to accomplish successful programs?
Depending on your program’s specific goals and needs, we use a variety
of high-performance tools to guarantee your program is a success.
The following list includes a number of our most valuable tools:
Mystery shopping
Competitive shopping
In-store audits
IVR surveys
Web surveys
Comment card processing
& analysis
Exit interviews
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13.
How do you measure results?
Using a variety of tools and research methodologies, including our proprietary
ROI Calculator™, we establish a baseline standard and then measure change
from that point. Then, we work with you to help you assess, analyze and implement
the prescriptive findings for change that will help make your investment count.
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14.
How do I get the results?
Results are posted daily to your unique Web site, which we build for you.
Your Web site is updated in real-time so results are rolled up as they come
in. Your Web site is available to you 24/7—which means no waiting, no
lengthy delays, and access to your data when you need it most.
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15.
Can I change the type of reports I receive and how quickly do I get the results?
At no additional cost, all reports, surveys, instructions, store realignments
and your Web site can be changed as often as needed to fit your unique needs
and requirements.
The results are posted on your unique Web site within 24–48 hours.
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16.
Who gets to see the reports?
We know your data is valuable. Your unique website is password-protected,
so you maintain total control of your site and report distribution. Additionally,
with this control you can designate who sees which reports (e.g., you have
the ability to allow one group of people to see one section and allow another
group to see a different section).
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17.
Can I view a typical customer report Web site?
Yes. Although our customer report Web sites are all fully customized to fit
the unique needs of our clients, we’d love to show you samples of our
customer reports.
For a demonstration of our reporting capabilities and of the ROI Calculator™ and
to learn how mystery shopping can positively impact your business, please
contact
us.
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18.
Who are your leaders?
David Rich, President
Howard Seigelman, VP Program Development
Bernie Slome, VP Business Development
Leadership biographies are available here.
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19.
Tell us about your support staff.
Client Services is an area of emphasis at ICC/Decision Services. We use a
team approach in which each client has a dedicated account executive, an assistant
account executive, and field coordinators. All assistant account executives
undergo a two-year Executive Training Program designed to facilitate and maintain
the highest level of quality customer service.
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20.
Can you also provide information about the retailing industry, consumer trends,
and new technology available and recommended?
Yes. We are members of the National Retail Federation, The American Marketing
Association, Field Marketing Services Association, Mystery Shoppers Providers
Association and the Food Marketing Institute. Recognizing that our education
offers a huge benefit to our customers, we remain active participants in activities,
conferences, and events that enable us to remain current in the marketplace.
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21.
Are you a full service research firm or do you conduct mystery shops only?
We are more than just another company that contracts with a field force to
conduct mystery shopping programs. While mystery shopping is one of the research
tools that we use to help you succeed, we are also a fully-integrated CRM organization
that utilizes classic marketing research techniques to support our customer’s
total efforts.
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22.
How often do you recommend mystery shopping a store or unit per month? Per
quarter? Why?
There is no one correct way to design all mystery shopping programs, which
is why we customize our programs for each retailer. Program frequency, which
is one design component of a mystery shopping program, is determined by the
following criteria:
Objectives
Use of data
Corporate culture
Support Staff
Budget
In general, programs that are tied to motivation,
recognition of excellence, team building, and compensation are run on a more
frequent basis (e.g. once a month or more).
Programs whose objectives are to read or measure compliance can be run
on a less frequent basis (e.g., once a month or less).
Perhaps the most important criteria in determining frequency is the capacity
to use the
information and effect change. Developing a diagnostic tool is one of several
methods that can make a real impact in your business.
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23.
How would you recommend putting the data to work? Can you provide an example?
With our clients’ assistance, we develop a set of diagnostic tools based
upon corporate training and policies. The diagnostic tool is designed to be
used by store managers as an instructive instrument for educating staff. This
proves to be an excellent empowerment device and means that data can be translated
into results in the most streamlined and cost-effective way possible.
For example, a unique feature of our Data Management Information system is
the individualized regional manager home page that provides regional or district
managers with access to mystery shopping and comment card results.
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24.
I have an IVR/Web survey program; do I need mystery shopping?
Most likely, yes. Interactive Voice Response (IVR) programs and/or Web surveys
are great metrics with which to measure a particular set of customer reactions
to service, product and location.
However, it’s important to understand that, while IVR is great for assessing
overall experiences and feelings of customers who have sought out your business,
mystery shopping adds an entirely different measurement to help with total
improvement. Because mystery shoppers are trained professionals who are engaged
to evaluate very specific components of your business, they can help effect
real measurable changes in the way business is done.
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25.
I have a mystery shopping program; do I need IVR/Web surveys?
The short answer is yes. While mystery shopping is a very valuable tool in
and of itself, utilizing IVR/Web surveys in tandem can help you realize the
fullest benefit for your business.
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26.
What is the value of competitive shopping?
In the retail market it is vital that you always keep your products, services
and promotions at the leading edge. When you keep your finger on the pulse
of what your competition is doing and how they’re doing it, you position
yourself to increase market share.
To make sure your products and promotions are responding to consumer needs
appropriately, you need to track the promotional events, activities and in-store
positioning of competing products. Competitive shopping can help you maximize
your own product performance and improve your customers’ experience.
Our competitive shopping programs can help highlight product launch effectiveness,
demonstrate in-store gaps in your (or your competitors’) product offering,
and allow you to assess your current marketing and development strategies to
respond to marketplace cues.
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27.
Do you have any case studies?
Yes. We have included a series of
ICC/Decision Services
case studies to help
you see how our solution-oriented programs work in the real world with real
results.
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